Healthy Women Image

HealthyWomen Editors

The editorial team and staff of HealthyWomen.

Full Bio
person combing hair

A Great Head of Hair: How to Take Care of a Synthetic Hairpiece

Lifestyle

Wigs and hairpieces made of human hair tend to look more realistic than those made of synthetic materials, and they often come with detailed instructions on how to care for them, which doesn't differ much from how you would shampoo and style your own hair.

However, it can be fun to have a number of hairpieces to choose from, and synthetic options are less expensive and come in many fun colors and styles. But these wigs and hairpieces do require special attention.

For example, know that your synthetic hair may frizz or even melt when exposed to extreme heat. As such, it's a good idea to be cognizant of candles or open flames nearby and avoid using curling irons or flat irons on these hairpieces.

Before washing your synthetic hair with a shampoo specially formulated for the material, used a wide-tooth comb to remove tangles. Instead of scrubbing and lathering shampoo right into the hair, rinse it in a basin filled with warm water and a capful of shampoo, then rinse it clean. You can condition it the same way, replacing a capful of shampoo with conditioner.

Once that's done, simply blot dry, hang the wig on a stand—do not use Styrofoam—and let it air-dry. Don't brush it until it's completely dry.

You might be interested in